Develop 1 1 id id 141 



become really prejudiced against Coolie labour as it is 

 against Chinese labour, or San Thome labour, indentured 

 Coolies will go the way of the Chinese, and then, when 

 it is too late, the planters will have discovered their 

 mistakes.' 



The Madras Mail pointed out a little time back that 

 planters in India have more than a passing interest in the 

 labour troubles of their brethren in the Straits Settlements 

 and the Federated Malay States. For one reason the 

 yearly output of rubber from that part of the world, which 

 will probably be the determining factor as regards rubber 

 prices in years to come, will depend on the supply of labour 

 tl)ere ; and in the probable event of the Dutch Govern- 

 ment prohibiting the emigration to llie Straits from Java 

 of indentured labourers, following the example of the 

 Government of India, the Rubber Companies will have 

 to choose between free labour from India and the China- 

 man. At present, fortunately for planters in India, the 

 latter seems most in favour, in spite of his independence, 

 the high scale of wages he demands, and the language 

 difficulty, which is likely to prove a serious drawback. 

 The first batch of Chinese emigrants to Malayan rubber 

 estates reached Singapore from Hong Kong a short time 

 ago. Only about sixty coolies arrived, but, owing to 

 scarcity in parts of Southern China, there are said to be 

 plenty more available. The South China Morning Post sug- 

 gests that the Government of Hong Kong should take an 

 interest in procuring the 1,000,000 coolies who will be 

 required, it estimates, for the Malayan rubber estates, and 

 in directing a constant stream of others to make up for 

 vacancies. If this scheme means that Southern India is 

 to be freed from the attention of the Straits recruiter, the 

 agriculturist on this side will wish it every success. It is 

 also stated that when arrangements are made for Chinese 

 coolies to be repatriated at the end of their contract, a 

 better class of labourer can be obtained, and, in accord- 

 ance with this dictum, the Planters' Association of 

 Malaya recently passed a resolution favouring the principle 



' A great deal depends on the Protector of Immigrants, indentured or 

 free; see Tropiial Life for June, 1909, when we said : "If the East 

 Indians have a real friend in their Protector of Immigrants . . . the 

 system, on the whole, does good." 



Now, of course, in March, 191S, it is too late to try and mend matters. 

 The indenture system has been condemned and is to cease. Whether so 

 drastic a step could have been avoided I cannot say. As things appear 

 to have been, however. I am not surprised (but very sorry as the labour is 

 badly needed) that is has been necessary to put an end to the system. 



